Hyundai ALCAZAR vs Suzuki Jimny

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Hyundai ALCAZAR in South Africa

Hyundai ALCAZAR

1.5D Elite AT Diesel Current
ZAR 669,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
VS
Suzuki Jimny in South Africa

Suzuki Jimny

1.5 GLX AllGrip AT Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 466,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW 🔧 130 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance ALCAZAR
Fuel Economy ALCAZAR
🛡 Safety ALCAZAR
📦 Practicality ALCAZAR
🔑 Ownership Jimny
Jimny starts ZAR 55,000 cheaper ALCAZAR from ZAR 499,900 · Jimny from ZAR 444,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec ALCAZAR Jimny
Maximum Power 85 kW 75 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 250 Nm 130 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size 1493 cc 1462 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 16.9 km/l 15.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 210 mm
Boot / Load Bay 180 l 85 l
Airbags Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags 6
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 1110 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 4 seats
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

ALCAZAR has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Jimny remains close.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance ALCAZAR +15 pts
Efficiency ALCAZAR +7 pts
Safety ALCAZAR +1 pts
Practicality ALCAZAR +20 pts
Ownership Jimny +6 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

ALCAZAR

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Jimny

Strengths
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

ALCAZAR

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Jimny

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec ALCAZAR Jimny
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2019
Generation Current South African ALCAZAR listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Fourth generation (JB74 series); entirely new K15B engine replaces previous K13B; AllGrip Pro 4WD system replaces previous generation's 4WD setup; new body retains ladder-frame construction and live rear axle from all previous generations
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Fourth-generation Jimny launched globally in 2018 and in SA in 2019; minor specification updates in 2021 including updated connectivity; 5-door Jimny Sierra launched globally in 2023 but not confirmed for SA as of end-2025; no mechanical changes to the 3-door SA model since launch
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Seven-seat SUV SUV
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Kinetic Yellow, Sizzling Red, Granite Grey, Brisk Blue, Chiffon Ivory White, Bluish Black Pearl
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1445 kg 1115 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5 GLX AllGrip AT
Spec ALCAZAR Jimny
Length 4560 mm 3625 mm
Width 1800 mm 1645 mm
Height 1710 mm 1720 mm
Wheelbase 2760 mm 2250 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 210 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 180 l 85 l
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 1110 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2090 kg 1435 kg
Payload Capacity 645 kg 325 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 4 seats
Doors 5 doors 3 doors
Towing Capacity - 1300 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Minimum Turning Radius - 4.9 m
Front Headroom - 990 mm
Rear Headroom - 910 mm
Front Legroom - 900 mm
Rear Legroom - 600 mm

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

ALCAZAR leads by 9 points

ALCAZAR has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Jimny remains close.

Index leader 66 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 70% source coverage
66
#1 Index leader

ALCAZAR

70% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Performance 44
Performance 44
Efficiency 68
Safety 89
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Leads by 9 points
57
#2

Jimny

93% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 29
Performance 29
Efficiency 61
Safety 88
Practicality 44
Ownership 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance ALCAZAR +15 Efficiency ALCAZAR +7 Safety ALCAZAR +1 Practicality ALCAZAR +20 Ownership Jimny +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

ALCAZAR

Performance 44/100
Efficiency 68/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

Jimny

Performance 29/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 44/100
Ownership 71/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Hyundai ALCAZAR leads the catalogue index with 66 pts vs 57 pts for Jimny

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, ALCAZAR leads. However, Jimny may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This ALCAZAR and Jimny comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: ALCAZAR 44 vs Jimny 29.

Efficiency index: ALCAZAR 68 vs Jimny 61.

Safety-equipment index: ALCAZAR 89 vs Jimny 88.

Practicality index: ALCAZAR 64 vs Jimny 44.

Ownership-cover index: ALCAZAR 65 vs Jimny 71.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.